It’s official - spring is here. Trees and bushes are in bloom; birds are singing; and the air is filled with the cacophony of
lawn mowers. As another mowing season begins, and with environmental issues being of concern to many Islanders, this is an appropriate
time to reflect on our lawns and lawn mowing practices.
A good place to start is with the realization that lawns are not a necessity
of life, unlike food, clothing and shelter. Also, the fossil fuel we consume when mowing our lawns does nothing to aid in improving
the human condition. In fact, the scientific evidence regarding the unfettered release of climate changing fossil fuel emissions
into the atmosphere is quite explicit – there will be increasingly serious consequences for us, our children and millions of people
around the world. For people concerned about the advent of peak oil (that point in time when global oil production peaks
and then goes into decline), the consumption of fossil fuel for residential lawn mowing and other cosmetic purposes seems all the
more irrational.
So, is there an environmentally and socially responsible mowing alternative for
the person who enjoys having a lawn? Yes, there is – the reel mower!
Now if memories of your grandfather’s reel mower
and how difficult it was to push come to mind, forget them. Unlike those instruments of torture from bygone years, modern reel
mowers weigh less than thirty pounds and, when properly adjusted, are as easy to push as a conventional gas mower. Because they don’t require gas or oil, they’re emissions free and don’t cost anything to operate. Also, they’re quiet enough
that you can use them anytime during the day without disturbing your neighbors.
Based on the foregoing information, it may seem
that reel mowers are the ideal way to ensure an emissions-free lawn. They do, however, have some limitations. Reel
mowers may not perform well in some types of grass. Also, because the wheels are on the outside of the reel, reel mowers cannot
cut as closely to foundation walls or tree trunks as gas powered mowers, so you may have to do a bit more trimming (a task easily
addressed with a good set of hand shears). However, most people should have no difficulty in using a reel mower to maintain
up to a quarter of an acre of lawn (and they may shed a few pounds in the process).
But, what if your lawn is larger than
a quarter of an acre? Well, then, you have a golden opportunity to reduce your lawn to a manageable size by using trees, shrubs,
and other types of lawn cover. Not only that, but with some planning, you can create a habitat for wildlife species. Information
on native trees and shrubs, and on how to attract wildlife to your yard, can be obtained from the Macphail Woods Ecological Forestry
Project website at www.macphailwoods.org.
For most people, then, the reel mower can be a practical
and enjoyable alternative to a gas mower. Indeed, many reel mower owners would be reluctant to ever go back to a gas mower and
lose the financial, health, and environmental benefits of their reel mowers.